Honduras

Honduras is a country with a lot of cultural diversity, as well as an abundance of natural resources, yet it is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Helvetas supports smallholder associations in increasing their productivity while ensuring sustainability. Helvetas promotes the professional training of young people to improve their employment prospects and promotes dialogue for efficient management and quality of natural resources.

The forests of Honduras are a trove of biodiversity. But they are threatened by deforestation, whether by large landowners or by smallholders who, out of economic necessity, need new fertile land to farm. Helvetas focuses its efforts in Honduras on the economic development of small farmers: by improving the skills and know-how of farmers’ associations, we contribute to generating fair value chains for products like organic cacao. This approach serves to increase small farmers’ income, while managing natural resources sustainably and restoring soil fertility.

Better prospects for rural communities

Honduras, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has virtually no future prospects to offer young people. Only one in five go to secondary school, and even fewer in rural areas. To earn money, many young people migrate to the cities, where they easily end up in criminal circles and gangs. Together with Helvetas, the ministry of education and municipal authorities offer young people an alternative in rural areas by providing practically oriented vocational training.

Promoting entrepreneurship

We foster entrepreneurial skills in the agricultural sector as well as in more urban professions (e.g. electrician). Teenagers and young adults learn which products are in demand, how to market them successfully and how to draw up business plans. We support trainees, even during their training, in setting up small businesses as electricians, poultry breeders or vegetable growers.

Giving the people a say

Helvetas also enables municipal authorities to bring public services closer to the citizenry. Through democratic participation, the population can articulate their needs and priorities with regard to public spending, e.g. to call for road repairs or a new school.